OPHIDIA; 
101 
Plectrurm canaricus {Silyhura canarica, Bedd.) has the supra-orbital 
and post-orbital confluent ; the separation of these shields is no longer 
distinctive of Plectrums, which is however sufficiently characterized by 
the vertically compressed caudal terminal scute. P. hrevis, Bedd., = P. 
perrotteti, juv. ; id. 1. c. pp. 229 & 230. 
Calamariid.®. 
Melanophidium hilineatum punctatum, Bedd., described and figured; 
id. 1. c. p. 230, pi. xxxii. figs. A & B. 
GeopJiis stenorhynchus, sp. n., id. ibid., Travancore. 
OlIgodontid^. 
Simotes splendidus, sp. n., id. t. c. p. 231, pi. xxxiii. Wynad. 
, CoLUBRIDiE. 
{Ablahes) Diadophis punctatus, var. n. ? dugesi, M. Villada, Nat. Mex. 
1875, p. 226, fig., Mexico. 
Ablahes albiventer, sp. n., A. Gunther, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 231, Darjeeling. 
Platyceps semifasciatus, Blyth, ? = Zamenis ventrimaculatus, juv. ; . 
W. T. Blanford, J. A. S. B. (n.s.) xliv. pt. 2, p. 208. 
Pityophis melanoleucus, particulars of its habits ; S. Lockwood, Am, 
Nat. ix. pp. 1-14. 
Scaphiophis raffrayi, sp. n., Bocourt, Ann. Sc. Nat. (6) ii. art. 3, Abys- 
sinia. 
Acontiophid.®. 
Fam. n., near Colubridce. Nostril peculiarly situated (as in Acon- 
tias) in the four-sided pyramidal rostral shield. For Acontiophis para- 
doxa, g. & sp. nn. A. Gunther, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 232, fig. 5, Himalayas 
or Khassya. 
TrOPJDONOTIDvG. 
Tropidonotus modestus. sp. n., id. 1. c. Himalayas. 
HoMALOPSIDiE. 
Herpeton teniaculatum. As preliminary to an intended monograph of 
Herpeton, A. Morice publishes notes on the peculiarities of this species. 
It is viviparous, and besides taking living prey, is herbivorous in its diet, • 
feeding on the Jussicea repens ; the tentacles probably assist it in finding 
its prey in the water or mud. C. R. Ixxx. pp. 128 & 129, and Ann. Sci. 
Nat. (6) ii. No. 5. 
Dendrophid.®. 
Dendrophis aruensis, sp. n., G. Doria, Ann. Mus. Genov, vi. p. 349, 
pi. xii. g, Aru Islands. 
